Packers rookie Johnathan Franklin fumbles away breakout performance

Dan Loumena

Johnathan Franklin, the standout running back from Los Angeles Dorsey High and UCLA, had a breakout game with Green Bay on Sunday until a late fumble derailed a chance for the Packers to seal a victory and allowed the Cincinnati Bengals to pull out a 34-30 victory.

Franklin, who began the season third on the depth chart, went into the game for James Starks and finished with 103 yards rushing and had a two-yard touchdown run. Starks injured a knee while replacing rookie starter Eddie Lacy, who sat out the game because of a concussion.

The breakout performance for Franklin came to a grinding halt as he tried to pick up a first down on a fourth-and-one play at the Bengals' 30 with the Packers leading, 30-27.

Franklin was stripped of the ball at the line. Safety Reggie Nelson picked up the ball but was stripped by quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Cornerback Terence Newman tracked down the ball and went 58 yards for what proved to be the winning score.

The Bengals improved to 2-1 and the Packers fell to 1-2.

Rodgers completed 26 of 43 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown but was sacked four times and had two passes intercepted.

Andy Dalton of the Bengals completed 20 of 28 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns but had a pass intercepted and fumbled, leading to a 24-yard touchdown return by M.D. Jennings.